Heidi Secures $16.6M Series A to Scale AI-Powered Medical Scribe Globally

Melbourne-based healthcare AI startup Heidi has secured $US16.6 million following its Series A funding round, aiming to expand its AI-powered medical scribe technology. The latest investment comes amid growing global adoption of its solution, which helps reduce administrative burdens for clinicians, allowing them to focus more on patient care.

Heidi secured fresh funding with participation from existing investors Blackbird, HESTA, Possible Ventures, and Archangel Ventures, along with new backers LocalGlobe, Anthology (Menlo Ventures and Anthropic), and US-based Headline, which led the round. The company aims to boost healthcare efficiency by streamlining documentation, ultimately striving to double global healthcare capacity.

Since its launch in February 2024, Heidi’s AI-powered scribe has been used in more than 20 million patient interactions and now supports over one million consultations weekly across five countries. The technology has been adopted by major healthcare providers, including ForHealth in Australia, Tamaki Health in New Zealand, Modality Partnership in the UK, and Beth Israel in Massachusetts. With the World Health Organization forecasting a shortfall of 10 million healthcare workers by 2030, AI-driven solutions like Heidi are becoming essential in reducing administrative workloads for clinicians.

Heidi streamlines medical documentation, enabling doctors to spend more time with patients instead of handling paperwork. Unlike many AI solutions that require a quiet setting, Heidi is designed to function seamlessly in high-pressure environments such as emergency rooms and operating theatres.

Looking ahead, the company aims to extend its capabilities beyond scribing. Future developments include generating pre-chart summaries, providing instant access to clinical guidelines, and enhancing patient engagement outside the clinic. These advancements are expected to further ease administrative workloads and improve overall efficiency in healthcare settings.

Dr. Thomas Kelly, Heidi’s CEO and co-founder, emphasized the need for such solutions, highlighting how excessive administrative work negatively impacts clinicians’ job satisfaction and contributes to workforce shortages. “Despite their dedication to patient care, clinicians are burdened by overwhelming paperwork, pulling them away from their core responsibilities,” Kelly said. “Heidi was created to free doctors from these tasks so they can focus on their patients and have fulfilling careers in medicine.”

Investors believe Heidi’s rapid adoption signals its potential to reshape the healthcare industry. Headline partner Taylor Brandt compared the startup’s growth trajectory to that of leading Australian tech firms like Atlassian and Canva, crediting its emphasis on customization, global reach, and product-led strategy. LocalGlobe partner Ferdi Sigona added that Heidi’s constant innovation and widespread clinical use position it as a leader in AI-driven medical support.